Laura Bendickson, age 61, of Bejou, MN, died on Monday, June 14, 2021, at the Viking Manor Nursing Home in Ulen, MN.

Laura Alma Kulzer was born September 27, 1959, in Fosston, MN, the daughter of Melvin and Anna (Sand) Kulzer.  She grew up in the Bejou area and attended school in Mahnomen, graduating from Mahnomen High School with the class of 1978.  Following high school, Laura moved to California where she entered the workforce.  On September 22, 1979, Laura was united in marriage to Gene Bendickson.  Their first year of marriage was spent in California before returning to Bejou.  Gene and Laura also made their home in Miami, FL, and Salt Lake City, UT, before putting down roots in the Bejou area and starting a family.  They were blessed with two sons, Brandon and Benjamin.  She later attended White Earth Tribal College and received her certificate to become a home health aide.  Over the years, Laura worked various jobs including several years for Multi-County Nursing and at the Center for Human Environment.  More recently, her declining health forced her to take early retirement and she had only very recently entered the nursing home.

Laura had a great sense of humor and always enjoying a great joke or story. She loved spending time outdoors fishing, tending to her bountiful garden and taking in the beauty of it all.  Her overabundance of produce, especially cucumbers led to many jars of pickles every season.  Laura also enjoyed traveling whenever she could with Yellowstone National Park and the North Shore being a couple of her favorite destinations.  When she wasn't outdoors, she could be found watching Jeopardy, working crossword puzzles or reading magazines and books, like the Harry Potter Series. Above all, the time spent with family and all the grandchildren meant the most to her.  Although she is gone from this life to soon, she will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

Laura is surivied by her husband, Gene, of Bejou; two sons, Brandon (Keasha Teiken) Bendickson and Ben (Jill Peterson) both of Bejou; eight grandchildren; five brothers:  Michael Kulzer of Moorhead, MN, Joseph (Lynette) Kulzer of Beltrami, MN, David (Candace) Kulzer of Bejou, Mark Kulzer also of Bejou, and Matthew (Lindi) Kulzer of Detroit Lakes, MN; four sisters: Diane Osenga of Bejou, Patricia Vanderklaauw of Miami, FL, Clara (Ron) Pottle of Cleveland, OH, Donna (Lynn) Hewitt of South Jordan, UT; brother-in-law, Sal Ligamaro of Salt Lake City, UT; sister-in-law, Marg Kulzer of Detroit Lakes; and many nieces; nephews, cousins and many extended Bendickson family.

Preceding Laura in death were her parents; two sisters, Elizabeth Gillette and Marlene Ligamaro; three brothers: Peter Kulzer, James Kulzer and Stephen Kulzer; and brother-in-law, Laurance "Sonny" Osenga.

Services will be held at a later date.

Please feel free to sign the guestbook, send condolences and view other opportunities which may be available to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions.